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Derby County’s summer has become a much calmer affair after their survival in the Championship was confirmed on the final day of the 2024/25 season at home to Stoke City.
The Rams drew 0-0 with the Potters at Pride Park Stadium, while a 5-3 defeat for Luton Town to West Bromwich Albion saw Matt Bloomfield’s side drop into League One just a year after playing Premier League football.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 16 |  PortsmouthPortsmouth | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 58 | 71 | -13 | 54 |
| 17 |  Oxford UnitedOxford United | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 49 | 65 | -16 | 53 |
| 18 |  Stoke CityStoke City | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 45 | 62 | -17 | 51 |
| 19 |  DerbyDerby | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 48 | 56 | -8 | 50 |
| 20 |  PrestonPreston | 46 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 48 | 59 | -11 | 50 |
| 21 |  Hull CityHull City | 46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 44 | 54 | -10 | 49 |
| 22 |  LutonLuton | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 45 | 69 | -24 | 49 |
Few expected John Eustace’s side to find a way to stay in the Championship after they found themselves seven points from safety just three games into his tenure, but 21 points in their last 11 matches ensured that the East Midlands outfit will be playing in the second tier once again next season.
Eustace earned praise from Ebou Adams, the player that he made captain on his arrival, for his role in keeping Derby County in the division but there was no sign of an award from the league itself which has come a surprise to a few.
Derby County’s John Eustace named in Manager of the Year debate
Scott Parker was named Manager of the Year at the EFL Awards ahead of the final day of the campaign, a decision that did not go down too well after his Burnley team returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking following relegation in 2024.
The nominees were the managers of the top four in the Championship this season and they did not prove to be popular choices with the likes of John Mousinho at Portsmouth missing out as well as Liam Manning at Bristol City and Frank Lampard following Coventry City’s incredible improvement under him.
Another missing name was Eustace, as he kept Derby in the division after leaving Blackburn Rovers in February while his former club were in the play-offs.
One podcast in particular hit out at the EFL’s decision: “I can’t see past anyone but John Eustace for manager of the season,” Ryan Dilks started.
“He has produced one of the most unique achievements this year and that is having two manager of the season worthy jobs at two different clubs in the same season.
“I can’t think of anyone who’s ever done that before at any level of football, let alone in the Championship. It’s easy to forget now but Blackburn were being widely tipped to struggle this season, some were even tipping them to go down.
“Instead, they’ve been competing for the play-offs with very little backing and of course without last season’s top scorer in Sammie Szmodics.”
Dilks continued: “Then he went to Derby, defied all the odds to keep them up. It’s difficult to convey just how abysmal Derby were before he came in. At one point they were bottom four [seven] points from safety and Eustace completely turned them around from that.”
John Eustace will not be one to focus on individual achievements
While getting recognised for the job that he did with Derby and with Blackburn would have been a nice way to end the season, the 45-year-old will have his full focus on next season already with the last 12 months behind him.
The Rams have a busy summer ahead, with decisions still to be made on contracts while new faces are needed to ensure that they are not involved in the relegation scrap once again.
As per John Percy, Kane Wilson’s deal was extended following the club’s survival in the Championship and he will be crucial to their success going forward after two excellent years at Pride Park, with the likes of Craig Forsyth, Liam Thompson and Matt Clarke also needing contracts.
2024/25 was a tough year for Derby, but with Eustace at the helm, they are in a much better place and next season will be the opportunity for the club to push forward and return to the top half of the division.